Dry Eye Tear Film Composition With Nano-Micellar Moisture Lock
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current artificial tear compositions fail to provide a long-lasting evaporative shield, cause blurred vision, and are uncomfortable due to high viscosity or synthetic oily sensations, while also failing to dissolve lipid deposits and promote natural tear secretion effectively.
Innovation Solution
Formulations comprising nonionic surfactants like polysorbates, poloxamers, and viscosity enhancers such as cellulose derivatives, along with polyols and electrolytes, create a nano-micellar layer that stabilizes the tear film layers and seals in natural tears, reducing evaporation and promoting secretion without toxicity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If high viscosity artificial tear compositions are used to maintain longer lasting tear film, then duration of action is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to blurred vision and sticky sensation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies non-Newtonian fluid mechanics by using hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose as a viscosity modifier that creates shear-thinning behavior. The composition maintains high viscosity at rest for prolonged tear film coverage but reduces viscosity during blinking motion, eliminating blurred vision and sticky sensations while preserving duration of action.
2Loss of substance
If lipids are added to create evaporative shield, then loss of substance is reduced, but object-generated harmful factors increase due to synthetic oily sensation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by replacing synthetic lipids with natural tear film components including bovine serum albumin and recombining human epidermal growth factor. This creates an evaporative shield through protein-based mechanisms rather than lipid-based ones, eliminating synthetic oily sensation while maintaining tear retention.
3Productivity
If surfactant concentration is increased above 1% to dissolve lipid deposits, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but object-affected harmful factors increase due to surfactant toxicity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite surfactant system combining multiple nonionic surfactants (polysorbate 20, polysorbate 80, poloxamer 188, poloxamer 407, polyoxyl 30 castor oil, polyoxyl 40 hydrogenated castor oil) in specific ratios. This composite approach enhances lipid dissolution capability while the synergistic interaction reduces individual surfactant toxicity, allowing effective concentrations without harmful effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces viscosity-modifying agents (hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose sodium, carbomer 940) as intermediaries that work with the surfactant system. These intermediaries enhance the overall cleaning effectiveness and stabilize the composition, allowing reduced surfactant concentrations while maintaining lipid deposit dissolution capability.
4Reliability
If preservatives are used to reduce infection risk, then reliability is improved, but object-generated harmful factors increase due to preservative toxicity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates traditional preservative systems (benzalkonium chloride, thimerosal, parabens) from the composition. Instead, it relies on the inherent antimicrobial properties of the surfactant system and the sterile manufacturing process to prevent infection, removing preservative-induced toxicity while maintaining reliability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The compositions offer a prolonged Moisture-Lock™ effect, maintaining tear film stability with minimal blur and discomfort, enhancing natural tear exposure and promoting healing, while dissolving lipid deposits and reducing preservative toxicity.
Implementation Method 1
Formulations comprising nonionic surfactants like polysorbates, poloxamers, and viscosity enhancers such as cellulose derivatives, along with polyols and electrolytes, create a nano-micellar layer that stabilizes the tear film layers and seals in natural tears, reducing evaporation
Implementation Method 2
viscosity enhancers such as cellulose derivatives... provide a viscosity of from about 50 to about 10,000 centipoise at 0 shear to 1 second
Implementation Method 3
a pH from about 5 to about 6, an osmolarity of from about 350 to about 550 milliosmoles
Implementation Method 4
a means for inducing tears... wherein the means for inducing tears comprises a pH from about 5 to about 6, an osmolarity of from about 350 to about 550 milliosmoles
Implementation Method 5
a means for sequestering tears... wherein the means for sequestering tears comprises from about 1.5% to about 5.9% w/v total volume of one or more nonionic surfactants and one or more viscosity enhancers
Data Source
AI summary
The invention is directed to compositions comprising one or more polysorbates, one or more poloxamers, one or more cyclodextrins, one or more polyoxyl castor oils, one or more polyethylene glycols, one or more polyols, one or more cellulose derivatives and menthol. The invention is further directed to a method of treating dry eye comprising topically applying compositions of the present invention to the eye of a subject in need thereof.